100 Games to play on your netbook or home computer

So you have just recieved your new netbook. Of course, the prime use for a netbook is for working, and for using simple applications such as MS Word and surfing the web. However, there is often more power crammed into these tiny things than you might expect. So, although you will probably be working on your new home or office computer, I’m sure that at some point you may feel the need to let off some steam with a little gaming. Choosing games that are good, don’t feature severely dated visuals, and run smoothly on a netbook are hard to find. However, we have tested hundreds of games on 3 different computers (specs below) and picked out a delectable selection for you to choose from.

New MSI Wind Netbook

These are the computers we will be using to evaluate the performance of our 100 games. For each game I will give a short low down on performance experienced.

N.B. Shared video memory indicates memory that is utilized from system RAM, and some computers may not be able to use that much, it depends on the amount of RAM. The number stated indicates max possible video memory.

Before we get started just check out this key

Smooth = Average 35+ FPS

Playable = Average 24-34 FPS

Unplayable = Average 0-23 FPS

Also, sometimes only the sequel game is listed. If you see this, assume that the original game performs as well as or better than the sequel. *

Shooter Games

Shooters were some of the earliest form of games, and it is safe to say that this is one genre that has only improved with time. As such, the games here may not match up to the action found in the latest releases, but they will provide some decent stress busting to break up your workload.

RPG Games

The RPG genre, in many people’s minds, has become somewhat delapidated as time has gone by. Some of the all-time classics are the older ones in this category. Sure, there are modern greats like Dragon Age: Origins or Fallout 3, but if you want to play RPG games on your netbook, you are getting the best or the rest.

Baldur’s Gate II

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Diablo II

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Gothic 2

HP: Playable (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (med-high settings)

Fallout 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Knights of the Old Republic

HP: Unplayable

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Playable (low settings)

Final Fantasy XI Online

HP: Playable (low settings)

Dell: Smooth (med settings)

MSI: Playable (med settings)

Planescape: Torment

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

World of Warcraft

HP: DNR

Dell: Playable (low settings)

MSI: Unplayable

Sims 3

HP: DNR

Dell: Smooth (low settings)

MSI: Unplayable

Mount and Blade

HP: Playable (low settings, DX7 mode)

Dell: Smooth (med settings)

MSI: Playable (low settings)

Neverwinter Nights

HP: Unplayable

Dell: Smooth (med settings)

MSI: Playable (low settings)

The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind

HP: Smooth (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Vehicle- Based Games

The games that fall into this category are simply any game that requires sole use of vehicles throughout the game. Racing games, like shooters, have improved with time, but don’t let that stop you from having a good race. Pedal to the metal!

Strategy Games

Fortunately, the old strategy games do tend to be the best. Although it’s hard to resist the photo realistic graphics seen in some of the newer strategy games, the best is commonly found by taking a look back at around the year 1998…

Starcraft

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Dawn of War

HP: DNR

Dell: Playable (med settings)

MSI: Smooth (Safe Mode)

World of Goo

HP: DNR

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Anno 1404

HP: DNR

Dell: Unplayable (although almost bearable after you get used to it)

MSI: Really is unplayable

Homeworld

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Command and Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars

HP: DNR

Dell: Playable (low-medsettings)

MSI: Playable (low settings, shader must be set to Low)

Empire Earth

HP: Smooth (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Playable (high settings)

Age of Empires 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Europa Universalis 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Hearts of Iron

HP: Unplayable

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Civilization III

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

The Settlers IV

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Commandos 3: Destination Berlin

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Sudden Strike II

HP: Smooth (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Silent Storm

HP: Playable, choppy (low settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Soldiers: Heroes of World War 2

HP: DNR

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth, sometimes choppy (med settings)

Praetorians

HP: Smooth (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Rome Total War

HP: DNR

Dell: Playable (low settings)

MSI: Playable (low settings)

Jagged Alliance 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Total Annihilation

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Ground Control

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Rise of Nations

HP: Smooth (medsettings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Warcraft III

HP: Smooth (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Dune II

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Simcity 4

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Theme Hospital

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Theme Park World

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Majesty

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Black and White

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Adventure Games

Many of you will probably be familiar with the Assassins Creed games. Although these recent ones won’t work on our test computers, there are a ton of older games out there that will give you a similar experience. By similar experience, I mean something that isn’t overtly shooter related, but something that maybe requires platforming, or stealth. Sure, these games might not have the scope or size of newer games, but hey- they are a lot of fun.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

HP: Unplayable

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (med settings)

Tomb Raider II

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Trine

HP: DNR

Dell: Smooth (low settings)

MSI: Smooth (low settings)

Splinter Cell

HP: Playable (low settings, shadows off)

Dell: Smooth (medsettings)

MSI: Smooth (low settings)

Theif: Deadly Shadows

HP: Playable (low settings, but with shadows off, and Theif with shadows off is rubbish)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Playable (high settings)

Oddworld: Abe’s Exodus

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Rayman 2

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

The Curse of Monkey Island

HP: Smooth (high settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance

HP: DNR

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Playable (med settings)

Beyond Good and Evil

HP: Playable (med settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Smooth (high settings)

Second Sight

HP: Playable (low settings)

Dell: Smooth (high settings)

MSI: Playable (medsettings)

Well there you go, 100 games to play on your netbook. Admittedly, a lot of the games are pre-2001, and won’t have such pretty graphics. However, shouldn’t gameplay come first?

We have tried our best to get you as many games as possible, and we’re sorry if your favourite game isn’t here. However, if you want a game to be tested, tell us in the comments below!

So finally, whether you own a netbook or a top-end gaming rig, these are 100 games you should try.